Seocho-gu sets W1.01tr budget for first year of new administration

Seoul's Seocho-gu has drawn up a budget of 1.01 trillion won ($746 million) for its first full fiscal year under the ninth directly elected administration.

The district plans to concentrate spending on projects residents can feel in their daily lives — including economic revitalization, reconstruction support, elderly transportation subsidies and expanded public parking — and will submit the 2027 revenue and expenditure budget to the district council.

The budget is organized around five priorities: a vibrant economic city, a premium residential city, an everyday cultural city, a green welfare city and a future-promise city. As the first year of the ninth administration, the plan aims to secure future growth engines and improve residents' living environment at the same time.

Local economic development and future industries stand out as key areas. The district allocated 5.9 billion won to operate the Seocho AI Convergence Technology (AICT) Center and 500 million won to develop and activate the Seocho AICT ecosystem. An additional 2 billion won for Seocho Love gift certificates, 1.6 billion won to nurture a local brand commercial district and 1.1 billion won to build a neighborhood commercial ecosystem will support small businesses and stimulate local spending.

To strengthen youth employment and cultivate talent for future industries, the budget includes 900 million won for youth competitiveness support, 300 million won for youth employment linkage programs and 400 million won to operate the Seocho AI College.

Improving the residential environment and supporting reconstruction are also priorities. The district set aside 400 million won for public support of housing reconstruction projects, 300 million won to establish district-unit plans for low-rise residential areas and 700 million won to support apartment complexes and their facilities. Another 800 million won will go toward installing and maintaining crime-prevention CCTV cameras to create a safer living environment.

In welfare, the most notable allocation is 3.7 billion won in transportation subsidies for elderly residents. The budget also includes 1.3 billion won to operate public facility shuttle buses, 3.7 billion won to build and run Zelkova Tree Rest Shelters, and 1.2 billion won for shingles vaccinations. Support for vulnerable groups is also strengthened, with 600 million won to establish a youth psychological clinic and funding for assistive robots for people with disabilities and sign-language unmanned information terminals.

The district will also invest in green recreational spaces within the city, committing 2.3 billion won to create a green forest walking path and a barefoot dirt trail, and 800 million won to develop gardens and operate a garden center.

Transportation and parking infrastructure will receive substantial funding. The district earmarked 13.3 billion won for a public parking lot near Guryong and 7.9 billion won for a public parking lot at Yangjae Stream Neighborhood Park, for a combined 21.2 billion won. An additional 1.5 billion won will go toward building a transit hub at the GTX-C Yangjae Station to improve regional transportation access.

In culture, the district will pursue construction of a multipurpose cultural facility, a Seocho K-Classic City Screen and operation of the Seocho District Orchestra. Some 500 million won has also been set aside to operate the Seocho Animal Care Center and create dog-walking trails as part of efforts to build a pet-friendly environment.

District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said the budget prioritizes spending on projects directly tied to residents' daily lives — including economic revitalization, improvements to the residential environment and tailored welfare services. "We will execute the finalized budget swiftly and thoroughly so that every resident can feel the change in their daily lives, ushering in 'Seocho's Golden Era 2,'" Jeon said.